Yesterday Mark Fisher, the Labour MP for Stoke on Trent Central, announced he would not seek re-election at the general election due to ill health.

His departure will mean that Labour's last Eton-educated MP will be leaving the Commons (following on from Tam Dalyell's retirement in 2005).

It is a seat where on paper the Conservatives start in third place, closely behind the Lib Dems, with the recently-selected Norsheen Bhatti (pictured) standing as the Conservative candidate.

She said on hearing of Mr Fisher's announcement:

"It is very sad that ill health has forced Mark to retire, and I
thank him for everything he has done for Stoke. However at the next
election local people face a very clear choice between 5 more years of
Gordon Brown making things worse, or a chance for change with David
Cameron and the Conservative Party. By neglecting and abandoning their traditional voters, Labour have
allowed the rise of the BNP and other racist parties in Stoke. I hope
we can convince them to vote for change with a Conservative that has
the energy, ideas and the determination to make Stoke a better place to
live."